Our group consists of Ateshia, Jackie, Kendall, Sheronda and Tania.
Throughout the semester, we will explore the impact internet sources such as Wikipedia and WebMd have on the health of the community. More specifically, we will address both sides of the debate and provide reference to scholarly sources to support the arguments.
The two main arguments are:
Pro
The internet sites are a great tool because they allow patients to make more informed decisions regarding their healthcare. Patients can compare treatment plans and review protocol before consulting with a physician.
Con
Websites such as Wikipedia and WebMd actually do more harm than good. It causes the general public to self-diagnose based on generalized signs and symptoms. Treatment plans should be established by medically trained and licensed professionals only.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Medical Fanatics would love to hear from you.
While I do think that it's okay for people to go to WebMD.com to self-diagnose themselves, I don't think that people should go to Wikipedia.com for self-diagnoses. WebMD doesn't allow people to post things on their site that they want to put and Wikipedia does. WebMD also shows you where the information is coming from and this can help you determine whether or not the information is suitable for you to use. I think that the internet lets people be more informed about their perceived medical condition before going to a doctor who may be having a bad day and decide not to diagnose you properly.
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